PRESERVATION  OF VISCERA  AXD  OTHER ARTICLES	67
 3.	The spleen.   If the  spleen is  very  large  a  portion  only need be
preserved.
 4.	One kidney.
 5.	The upper part of the small intestine with its contents.
According to the rules o£ the U.P. Government for transmitting viscera
and other articles to the Chemical Examiner for analysis the stomach and its
contents are to "be preserved in one bottle, and pieces of the liver, spleen,
kidney and of the upper part of the small intestine, in another bottle, but
it is advisable to preserve the stomach and its contents together with a piece
of the upper part of the small intestine in one bottle, and pieces of the liver,
spleen and kidney in another bottle. In the case of infants one bottle is
quite sufficient. These viscera are to be preserved in rectified spirit except
in cases of suspected poisoning by alcohol, phosphorus, paraldehyde, acetic
acid or carbolic acid and other drugs of the phenol group when a saturated
solution of common salt is to be employed.6 The pieces of viscera should
be slashed or cut into small pieces to ensure penetration of the preservative
used. It should be remembered that the quantity of the rectified spirit or
the saturated solution of common salt should be equal to that of the viscera
in bulk. The viscera and rectified spirit or saturated solution of common
salt together should not fill the bottles, but only reach to two-thirds of their
height, in order to diminish the risk of the bottles bursting in case any gas
of decomposition is given off.7 The stoppers of the bottles should be treated
with motor grease, vaseline or any other suitable grease, to prevent them
sticking, and should be securely tied in position by tape or string, the ends
of which should be sealed in such a manner that the bottles could not be
opened without breaking the seals. A label containing the name of the
deceased and the viscera should be pasted on to each bottle. A sample of
the preservative used—either the rectified spirit or the saturated solution
of common salt—should always be preserved in a separate phial for chemical
analysis, unless the preservative is supplied from the Chemical Examiner's
office.
Before despatch to the Chemical Examiner each bottle should be put
into the cardboard case in which it was issued from the Chemical Examiner's
office. The number stencilled on the cardboard case should be the same as
that of the bottle. The cardboard case should be so securely tied up by the
pieces of tape attached to its sides and sealed that it would not be possible
to open the cardboard case without breaking the seals. The cardboard case
should then be placed in a wooden box, called a standard pattern box, which
is also supplied by the Chemical Examiner. The box has a pent-roof shape,
is furnished with a door at the side and is lined inside with cushions which
press against the bottle firmly on all sides, so that no further packing material
is necessary. A bigger wooden box divided into two compartments is also
supplied so that it can hold both the bottles. The door of the box has a
lock whose key remains permanently with the Civil Surgeon. A duplicate
key is kept in the Chemical Examiner's office. A serial number is marked
on each box and also on the key. This number should be quoted in the
letter informing the Chemical Examiner of the despatch of the parcel. After
locking the door of the box a piece of tape should be passed across the key-
hole and sealed in the depression made in the wood near the keyhole. The
address label should be pasted to the door of the box in such a position as
to cover the keyhole. On this label the number and date of the letter
advising despatch to the Chemical Examiner should always be inserted to
6.	The UJ>. Medical Manual, 1934, p. 224 ; Bombay Civil Medical Code, 1926, p. 152 ;
Directions for forwarding  cases to the Chemical Examiner, Bengal, for Medico-Legal
Examination, p. 4.
7,	The UJP. Med. Manual, 1934, ^ 223.